The government of Rivers State, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has unveiled free buses to help cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu‘s government.
Represented by his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, Fubara said the free bus ride is a deliberate intervention by the Rivers state government to mitigate the effect of the economic challenges.
“It is a gift given to us, and therefore, we must treasure it,” Odu said during the unveiling of the buses.
Regarding the development, Rivers State Commissioner for Transport, Dr Jacobson Nbina, said the palliative buses are free and will run for three years.
In his remark, the Head of Service Rivers state, George Nweke, said this would go a long way to helping the masses in the state, civil servants specifically.
On her part, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport, Fani Barango, said the heart of the civil servants is filled with gratitude and laughter because of what the state government has done for them.
Commercial drivers interviewed to comment on the government’s gesture acknowledged that it will, in a way, affect their businesses but that it was a good move by the Fubara administration.